The final report from the Food Vision Tillage Group is expected to be published during the first half of March.
It will be officially presented to agriculture minister, Charlie McConalogue, who will then discuss its recommendations with other members of the Cabinet.
Expectations are high that the government will support the broad themes identified within the final report.
These include the recognition of the exceptionally low carbon footprint enjoyed by the Irish tillage sector.
The report will also address the challenge of increasing the area of crops grown in Ireland towards the target figure within the current Climate Action Plan of 400,000ha.
However, there is also a recognition that the tillage area will recede in 2023; this is a direct reflection of the poor weather that impacted on the crops sector throughout the latter part of 2023 and into the New Year.
Food Vision Tillage Group
Four aspects of Irish land use have been identified as being of key importance as the country responds to the challenge of climate change: forestry; anaerobic digestion and associated technologies; organic food production; and tillage.
Members of the Food Vision Tillage Group have noted that government has already responded positively to three of the four aforementioned policy pillars.
Crop production has not been responded to in any meaningful sense up to this point.
The expectation is that the soon-to-be-published report will provide the government with the opportunity it requires to further support the crops sector.
As previouslt reported by Agriland, it is envisaged that an income stabilisation scheme will underpin the final recommendations put forward by the group.
This will mirror similar support measures currently operating in the United States. Essentially, this would act as a form of crop insurance scheme.
Agriland understands that the farming organisations would support such a development, provided the government commits to co-funding a scheme in the long-term.
The other financial contributors to the stabilisation measure would be the feed compunders, millers and growers.
Other recommendations that can be expected from the Food Vision Tillage Group include the establishment of an oilseed rape crushing plant in Ireland and the provision of capital support measures to facilitate the greater use of ‘home-grown’ beans in compound feed rations.
Agriland understands that all of the farming organisations want measures put in place that will allow for the provenance of Irish-produced grains to be fully recognised along the entire length of the farming and food chain.